Combination stretcher



No. 6|4,957. Patented Nov. 29, I898.

J. JOURNEAY.

COMBINATION STBETCHEB, NECK YOKE, AND SINGLETREE.

(Application filed Dec. 15, 1897.)

(No Model.)

NITED STATES UATENT FFICE,

JAMES J OURNEAY, OF NEWV IIOPE, CALIFORNIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,957, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filed December 15, 1897. Serial No. 662,018. (No model.)

stretcher-stick 10, composed of gas-pipe, such 5 5 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMEs JOURNEAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at NewHope, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combination Stretcher, Neck-Yoke, and Whiflietree 5 and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in stretchers such as are commonly used in attaching horses or other beasts of burden to loads which they are to draw; and my object is to provide a stretcher or doubletree and singletree or whiffletree which may be easily transformed into a neckyoke which may be cheaply constructed and easily kept in repair; and it consists in the peculiar construction, novel combination,and adaptation of parts hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which igure 1 is a top view of my improved stretcher. Fig. 2 is a detached enlarged view of one of the combination-hooks. Rig. 3 is an enlarged detail View of one of the links.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views. 1

I employ a stretcher-stick 1, composed of gas-pipe of the proper size and strength and have the ends flattened for a short distance, over which ends common open links 2, such as shown in Fig. 3, are inserted and prevented from slipping off by means of pins 3, rigidly inserted in the ends of the stretcher-stick 1. To each of the links 2, at their rear ends, a bar 4 is flexibly attached by means of an eye in the end thereof, which embraces the said link 2. Such bars 4 extend rearwardly at an angle and in the same manner engage with the eye 5 of a hook 6, which is adapted to be attached to any load to be drawn. To the front end of each of the links 2 a singletree is attached by means of a metallic ring 7, from which two bars 8, similar to the bars 4, radiate, such bars 8 having eyes in their ends which engage the ring 7 aforesaid, and flat links 9, which are fitted over the flattened ends of a links 9 being maintained in position thereon by means of a pin 11, rigidly inserted in each end thereof.

To the front end of each link 9 I attach the eye 12 of a combination hook and ring having the book 13 as in ordinary use and a ring 14 rigidly and permanently secured to the back of such hook 13 for the purpose as will be shown.

It is often desired to use a neck-yoke when at a distance in a field or on a road from a repository, and to that end I have arranged my stretchers so they may be used as a neck yoke by detaching one of the rings 7 from the link 2, whereupon the ring '7 is inserted on the end of the pole of a vehicle and the pole-straps are inserted in the rings 14, thereby providing a serviceable neck-yoke imme diately.

I employ metallic stretcher-sticks instead of wooden ones for the purpose of reducing the liability of breakage and becoming out of repair by reason of the action of the rays of the sun.

I am aware that stretchers have been made which comprise a chain with a stick spreading the ends thereof, and that feature I do not claim, broadly; but

What I do claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The doubletree described comprising a stretcher-stick 1, open links secured on the ends of the same, a hook, bars interposed between and flexibly connected to the hook and open links, stretcher-sticks 10, links 9, secured on the ends of the said sticks 10, hooks attached to the links and having eyes on the backs of their shanks, rings 7 detachablycon= nected to the open links, and rods interposed between and flexibly connected to the links 9 and rings 7, substantially as specified.

2. In a singletree a hook having an eye attached to the back of the shank thereof in connection with such singletree, all arranged and operating substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J AMES J OURNEAY,

Witnesses:

JOSHUA R. WEBSTER, MoLBRY HAYNES. 

